Why horror films keep casting priests as the heroes
A new book argues that Catholic theology, with its focus on suffering and sacred rituals, provides a natural fit for the scary movie genre.
By Marcus Reed ·
Matthew Cressler and his co-author argue that Hollywood favors Catholic imagery because the religion’s core concepts align naturally with the mechanics of horror. Their new book, Body And Blood, examines why the genre repeatedly turns to priests, exorcisms, and gothic church settings rather than other Christian denominations.
The trend dates back several decades. Films like The Exorcist, The Omen, and Rosemary's Baby established a template where Catholic figures confront demonic forces. Cressler notes that when a vampire arrives or a child is possessed, audiences instinctively expect a priest rather than a Methodist minister to intervene.
Cressler points to specific theological ideas that make the faith useful for filmmakers. Catholicism emphasizes that suffering can draw a believer closer to Christ. This theme allows writers to create characters who endure extreme pain as a form of spiritual progress.
Director Aislinn Clarke, who was raised Catholic, says her childhood experiences prepared her for the genre. She recalls watching a priest hold up a chalice and declare it the body and blood of Christ. As a young horror fan, she saw the ritual as a form of acceptable cannibalism.
Films often exaggerate these religious themes to increase tension. In the indie horror film Saint Maud, a nurse recreates the suffering of Jesus by lining her shoes with metal spikes. Clarke directs The Devil's Doorway, a 2018 film that features bleeding statues and demonic possession. She says the most disturbing scene involves nuns singing hymns while ignoring a woman in labor.
Rev. Aaron Williams, a pastor at St. Mary's Basilica in Mississippi, consulted on the 2025 horror film The Ritual. He explains that a priest acts with the authority of Christ through sacramental ordination. This elevated status allows filmmakers to depict priests as powerful figures capable of fighting demons directly.
Cressler suggests that these movies influence how viewers perceive the church itself. He notes that audiences associate cluttered rooms with candles and crosses with danger. The genre also uses horror to expose flaws within religious institutions, showing how rituals can mask neglect or suffering.
The use of Catholic symbols continues to shape the visual language of horror. Whether the threat comes from inside or outside the home, the genre relies on these familiar religious images to signal danger to the audience.
Source: KHPR
